Real Salt Lake promotes Mike Petke to head coach

Real Salt Lake has appointed Mike Petke head coach after the former defender spent the last few months bossing the club's affiliated USL side Real Monarchs, the club revealed Wednesday.

The 41-year-old put pen to paper on a multi-year deal. As per league policy, the financial details and term of the deal were not disclosed.

Petke takes the reins of an MLS side for the second time after managing the New York Red Bulls during the 2013 campaign and guiding them to the Supporters' Shield, the club's first major trophy. Petke led the club to the Eastern Conference Final before being sacked, a decision that provoked a backlash from the club's supporters.

Two seasons and change removed from that spell with New York, Petke gets the RSL gig after Jeff Cassar was sacked March 20.

Few will be more familiar with RSL's setup than Petke, who was named Monarchs manager in December 2016.

"I arrived in December thinking this was the right fit and the right opportunity; the vision and blueprint provided by (RSL owner) Mr. (Dell Loy) Hansen permeates from the first team to the Monarchs and through to our academy and our facilities that open this fall," Petke said Wednesday.

With 351 MLS matches played between MetroStars, D.C. United, Colorado Rapids, and Red Bulls, Petke brings experience as both a player and manager in North America's top flight to the Salt Lake gig.

The franchise's fourth manager, Petke will be with the side for Saturday's clash with Minnesota United before officially taking charge April 8 against the Vancouver Whitecaps at the Rio Tinto Stadium.